Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“Love of Vakeeli,” Maeve whispers, pressing a hand to the center of her chest.
“She finished Decius off then she grew four times her size and ate Arie in a single bite.” Killian slouches back in his chair with wide eyes, like he’s still processing what happened.
“I don’t understand why she’d eat them. I mean, how does she even do that?” Juniper asks, shock written on her face.
“I don’t know, but they were nothing more than a piece of meat to her,” Killian says.
“I think eating them gave her more power,” Willow says. “Decius and Arie are already powerful and full of energy we know nothing about. She created them. Arie was a simple creation, but I think Decius is what really fueled her. He was already strong before. Consuming him basically amplified her strength.”
“And she wants me because I carry the Seed of Yuri.” I sit back in my chair, letting my eyes fall to the biscuits on the tray. “Having me will make her the most powerful Regal. She’ll be in full control here.”
“And she’ll kill everyone,” Willow whispers.
“Well, we must make sure she doesn’t reach you then.” Maeve shoves back in her chair, causing the legs of it to drag across the floor. “All this time I thought The Regals could be trusted. I spent so many years praying to them, begging them to look after my family, to protect us, and all this time they’ve wanted us dead.”
“Not they,” I say. “Just Selah. Korah and Hassha seem to be working in our favor.”
“Do you trust them?” she asks.
“No. But they’re all we have for guidance on this matter right now.”
“Didn’t you say all The Regals are connected? That if one of them dies, all of them die?” Willow asks, looking at me.
“Yes.” I nod. “Why?”
“If that’s the case, where is Yuri now? How did he die and not the others?”
“Because he made a sacrifice,” a voice says from the other side of the room.
All the women gasp and look to find the familiar voice.
I sigh because I know exactly who it belongs to.
FORTY-ONE
CAZ
Hassha walks to the center of the kitchen, clad in gold armor and ivory, her eyes lit blue, and her face solemn.
“Hassha,” Maeve whispers, eyes widening. She steps away from her chair to bow, which annoys me seeing as The Regals couldn’t give a shit about us.
“Hello, Maeve,” Hassha croons with a smile. “Even with your doubts, you bow. Your heart is good.”
Maeve stands tall and clasps her hands together.
“Why are you here?” I ask, raising a brow.
Hassha’s eyes glide across the room to latch with mine.
“Will everyone but Caspian and Willow clear the room please?”
My clan stands, but I throw up a hand. They pause, looking from me to Hassha.
“My clan stays. Whatever you have to say can be shared with all of us. If there’s a threat from Selah we’re facing, they should be prepared. They should know every single detail. So please, Hassha, spare us none of them.”
Hassha tips her chin. Then her irises spark, and she scans everyone at the table.
“Ow. What the fuck?” Juniper hisses, clutching her forehead.
Rowan groans, and Killian curses. Maeve whimpers, pressing fingers to her temple.
“Hassha, I trust my clan,” I snap. “There’s no need to search their minds.”
“Search our minds?” Rowan shouts, huffing a laugh. “I know you’re a Regal and all, but I’d encourage you not to do that, love. You’ll see things you don’t want to see.” He tosses Hassha a wink, and she puts on an amused smile as she makes her way toward the table.
With a flick of her fingers, she removes Rowan from his chair and hoists him in the air. He yells as she guides him to the other side of the table, pulls a chair out for him, and drops him there instead.
“Shit!” Rowan howls, and of course he’s laughing. “What was that for?”
“That was me encouraging you not to call me love.” Hassha sits in his prior seat.
I try desperately hard not to roll my eyes. These Regals are always showing off. Maybe that’s what this is. A way for them to wave their swords around and measure sizes.
“Where is Selah now?” Willow asks as Hassha crosses her legs.
“We’re not sure, but Korah is on it.”
Willow shifts in her seat. “So, she’s no longer at Council Castle?”
“No.”
I don’t like the thought of that. She could be anywhere.
“Blackwater is protected. She can’t infiltrate here,” Hassha says, eyeing me.
“Do you know she ingested Decius and Arie?” I ask.
She nods. “I do.”
“So she’s stronger now?”
“Just like Korah and me, Selah fuels herself with what she creates and what she controls. I control the sun, moon, and stars. Korah controls water, land, and vegetation. Selah created Decius and Arie, therefore she has control of their energy. Technically, everyone at this table comes from her original creations so you are hers to take.”